View full sizePhoto providedTen-year-old artist Autumn de Forest will present her artwork at Ocean Galleries in Stone Harbor, Aug. 3 through 5.

Ten-year-old Autumn de Forest wants to change the world — one brush stroke at a time.

Called an “artistic genius” by The Discovery Channel, de Forest’s artistic talent first emerged when she was just 5 years old.

“One day my dad was staining some wood in the garage and I came out and asked if I could mess around,” said de Forest. “I got a canvas and started messing around with the wood and paint and I realized how fun it was.”

She also realized she was good at it.

“I’m self-taught. It’s from the heart,” she said.

From one conversation with the Las Vegas resident, it’s easy to see just how much heart de Forest has. Committed to arts education, de Forest wants all children to have the opportunity to excel at whatever they’re passionate about.

“I want to inspire kids to do what they want to do,” she said. “Not all kids are going to be artists. You can’t expect every kid to be a great artist, but you can explore anything you want.”

And de Forest is doing just that. The young artist’s works have been sold to collectors worldwide, some fetching a whopping $25,000. And for the first time ever, her works will be on view at a solo show, “Child Prodigy: A diverse collection of artwork by Autumn de Forest” at Ocean Galleries in Stone Harbor, Aug. 3 through 5, something she’s really excited about.

She will also be on hand — at the gallery in Stone Harbor — to sign artwork purchased by her fans. She’s not nervous to meet her admirers at all, she said. In fact, she really enjoys getting to know the people who appreciate her works.

De Forest was the youngest artist to be featured at the National Art Education Association’s annual convention — she appeared alongside legendary artists Peter Max and Chuck Close. She has also been interviewed on TV by Matt Lauer on “The Today Show,” has been profiled on the Discovery Channel and featured on TV shows on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC News.

Despite being in the spotlight — a lot — de Forest said she never gets “stage fright.”

“I’ve always loved the audience and I get really excited in a good way,” she said. “I try to think positive.”

It was that very optimism that drew Ocean Galleries owner Kim Miller to the young artist.

“We had heard about Autumn and seen several YouTube videos featuring her, but we were still amazed the first time we had the opportunity to speak and see her artwork,” said Miller. “She is so poised, incredibly smart and genuinely obsessed with painting. Yet, she recognizes that there is so much more to her art — it is a way to communicate and connect to people.”

For her first solo gallery show, de Forest will unveil a new painting called “Americana (Healing Flag)” which depicts “the Betsy Ross flag with circular stars,” de Forest said.

The exhibition will also feature more than 100 of de Forest’s original pieces, many seashore-themed painted specifically for her very first visit to Stone Harbor.

“I’ve never been to the Jersey Shore,” she said. “I’m really honored to be there in Stone Harbor and I’m really excited to see the beach there.”

If you go: “Child Prodigy: A diverse collection of artwork by Autumn de Forest” exhibition opens at Ocean Galleries, 9618 Third Ave., Stone Harbor, Friday, Aug. 3 running through Sunday, Aug. 5. De Forest will be at the gallery on Friday, Aug. 3 and Saturday, Aug. 4 from 7 to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily throughout the summer season.